Minister detained for paying Rs 4 crore to Maoists to kill rival

Minister detained for paying Rs 4 crore to Maoists to kill rival. National Investigation Agency on Sunday detained Jharkhand’s former minister Gopal Krishna Patar for reportedly paying Rs 4 crore to Maoists to kill rival Ramesh Singh Munda. Search at Patar’s premises was on and he would soon be formally arrested, an official said.Munda was shot dead nine years ago by Maoists, whose local leader, also the main suspect, recently surrendered. Patar, better known as Raja Peter, paid Rs 4 crore to the Maoists, who were upset with Munda over his frequent outbursts against them.“Searches are on at three premises in Jharkhand in connection with the case. Soon we will formally arrest Raja Peter,” an official said. The anti-terrorism probe agency has also detained assistant sub-inspector Sheshnath Singh, who was part of Munda’s security detail.A former minister, Munda was shot dead in the Bundu town of his Maoist-hit Tamar constituency on July 9, 2008. Almost nine years, the investigation barely made progress as Pahan was on the run. The probe picked up pace after he gave himself up to police in May this year.He lost twice to Munda, in the 2000 and 2005 assembly elections. But in the by-election called after Munda’s murder, Peter scored a stunning victory in Tamar. He defeated chief minister Shibu Soren, forcing him to resign. Minister detained for paying Rs 4 crore to Maoists to kill rival.According to Pahan it was Peter who bankrolled the operation,” the official said. Pahan was paid the promised Rs 4 crore but instead of handing over the money to his bosses, he kept most of it for himself, the NIA official said.

Peter was not the only one baying for Munda’s blood, he said. The rebels also wanted him dead for his anti-Maoist remarks and their central committee had decided to eliminate Munda, the official said.